stainless steel polishing

[tom'sB2B]

I've been trying to polish out the scratches in my stainless grill bars. I started out using 220 grit wet sand with no success and went down to 180 grit. It seems the scratches are too deep for wet sanding and it seems like using a file would be to much. Is there any middle of the road application I could use? Emory paper or something? I would then sand it out to a 1500 grit.

thanks for any help or insight.

[Dave72dt]

I've seen dings and dents worked out and filed, gently of coarse and then sanded and buffed. I'd guess if you want to get that scratch out , you have to get to the bottom of it so a file may be just what is needed. Try a jeweler's file. I've seen packs of small file assortments at hardware stores in their bargain racks.

[dontknowitall]

For a schrats use a fine file, filing until it is even and the start sanding with 180/240 work your way up to 1200-1500. You can also get some polishing paste and polishing buffs to help that process.

If it has dents, try pushing them out with a metal dolly or with small hamer and dolly, and then the process as above.

[buds truck]

It takes time and patience. You need to start with a fairly agressive grit of sandpaper or file, and then work up to lighter grits successively. When I restored my grille on my Plymouth, I worked out the dents, filed them with a sanding block with 80 grit on it and continued to work out the small imperfections till the dent was gone, then went to 120, then 240, then 320, and up the grit chart till I stopped at 1500 and then hit it with ultrafine. I then used a coarse grit stainless steel paste on it with a stainless buffing pad connected to a drill held still with a vise and finally a fine grit polish. For a first timer, it worked out well. Hope this helps. Bud

[tom'sB2B]

I got some fine files today. I will get some grittier paper and get to work

thanks

[Guest dadsdream]

3m and other outfits have 2" diameter twist on scotchbrite pads that you can put on a right angle die grinder. works great for blending things together

here is a link.

http://www.use-enco.com

go to the master catalog

the holder is on page 297 and the disks are on page 304 and 305. i use the enco brand ones. seem to work fine just a lot cheaper.

[smallblockjunkie]

this is about 40 hours of sanding and buffing time. Do it just like buds truck said and spend the time and it will look good at the end of the project

[Dave72dt]

this is about 40 hours of sanding and buffing time. Do it just like buds truck said and spend the time and it will look good at the end of the project

Speaking of looking good, where are you at on completion of yours? Last photos seemed ages ago.

[smallblockjunkie]

had some health problems not much done to the truck. will start again soon.